Sectional apparatus for generating ammonia-gas for dry-cleaning machines



C. F. SCHEFFER. SECTIONAI. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AMMONIA GAS FOR DRYCLEANING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. l9l7- Feb. 8

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: J IN l 7 f? if @4414 8y ATTORNEY C, F. SCIIEFFER. SECTIONALAPPARATUS FOR GENERATING AMMONIA GAS FOR DRY CLEANING MACHINES.APPLICATION FILED NDV. I2, I91]- 1,'367,718; Patented Feb. 8,1921.

I 2 SHEETSZZIEET 2. .3 2/ 25 Z9 ,c zj j Z4 5 I v w I 37 l I I I A: 3 '9427 U 7 v 1 Emma I WHWF88E8: 6'

011 f *f I W .UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL I. SCHEFFER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed November 12, 1917. Serial No. 201,723.

T 0: a. Z whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL F. SCHEFFER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the countyofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sectional Apparatus for Generating Ammonia-Gas forDry-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sectionalapparatus for generating ammonia gas for dry cleaning machines.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a sectional apparatusadapted to generate and continuously deliver to one or more dry cleaningmachines, ammonia gas free from moisture. It has been found that ammoniagas introduced in a constant manner to a dry cleaning machine, will notsupport combustion, thereby eliminating the danger of igniting thebenzin gases.

Ammonia regenerators now in use for other purposes, are not well adaptedfor application to dry cleaning machines, for the reason that theirvalves and other connecting parts are inefficient and short lived whenconveying ammonia gases for dry cleaning purposes.

My improved apparatus, on the other hand, eliminates valves and providesgenerating and delivering parts. which are especially constructed with aview to delivering a continuous and uniform supply of ammonia gas freefrom moisture. Furthermore, my improved apparatus is sectional innature, so that by adding generating units, any number of dry cleaningmachines may be supplied without the necessity of attaching an apparatusto each machine as under the former method. Thus a con tinuous supply ofammonia gas free from moisture may be delivered to each machine, toprevent the alkaline qualities of the cleaning solution from beingdestroyed or neutralized by the greases contained in the garments to becleaned. Furthermore, a continuous supply of anhydrous ammonia deliveredto each machine, reduces the friction between the cleaning solution andthe garments. by acting as a lubricant, in that the grease and dirt inthe garments to be cleaned are saponified thereby.

. Another object-of the invention is to properly balance the radiatingand cooling surfaces of the device so that it Wlll be possible to keepthe aqua ammonia in the ammonia chambers at a temperature far below theboiling point of water, to prevent commingling water vapors beingformed.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing specification and particularly set forth in the subjoinedclaims. 7

The preferred form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front ele vational View ofmy improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof,showing in dotted lines one of the units about tobe removed from theframe. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of theunits and its supporting parts. And Fig. 4 is a detail view of theslotted upper end of the discharge tube.

Throughout the specification and drawings similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts.

In detailed description of the preferred form of embodiment of myinvention, the numeral 1 designates one side member and 2 the other sidemember of a standard for removably supporting the generatingunits to behereinafter described.

Extending between the side members 1 and 2 a slight distance above theirbottom ends is a transverse steam chamber 3 preferably constructed ofcast iron.

One end of the steam chamber 3 has a steam inlet 5 to receive a standardsteam pipe 5 At the bottom of said steam chamber there is a steamexhaust 6.

Referring to Figs. land 3, the chamber 3 is provided with two circularopenings 7, although a greater number may be provided to receiveadditional units if desired. Sun rounding each opening 7 is a preferablycircular flanged seat 8 adapted to receive a circular base 9 having ahollow chamber 10 extending downwardly therefrom into the steam. chamber3. The base 9 has a central boss 11 to receive a vertical member 12preferably circular in cross section and threaded on both ends.Extending through this member and the base 9, for communication with thechamber- 10, is a small hole 13 and a large hole 14:. The latterreceives at its top portion a vertical discharge tube 15,-

while the hole 13 serves as an inlet for the liquid ammonia.

Adapted to be screwed on the upper threaded end of the vertical member12 is an elongatedvessel 16 preferably constructed of cast iron. Eachvessel 16 consists of a lower chambered portion 17 and an upper ichambered portion 18 connected together by an elongated neck 19.

Each vessel 16 is provided at its lower end with a threaded boss 20' toreceive the threaded upper end of the member 12, from which thedischarge tube 15Vis adapted to extend upwardly into the chamberedportion 17 of said vessel fora purpose to be herein- "ft-er described.

The construction which forms the upper support for the vessel 16 willnow be described. Extending outwardly from the transverse member 1 aretwo bosses 21, each of which is in vertical alinement with itsrespective opening 7 in the steam chamber 3. Each boss 21-has a hollowexterior portion into which extends a narrow outlet tube 22 that makesan upward bend through the solid portion of the boss for communicationwith a tube 23 leading to a dry cleaning machine (not shown) for thepurpose of delivering a continuous flow of ammonia gas theretoa Thechambered portion 18 of the vessel 16 terminates at its rear upper endin a tubular fitting 2d whose outer end is'formed to enter a respectiveboss 21 to firmly hold the vessel within the frame and bring the angleconduit 25 within said fitting, in communication with the outlet tube 22in said boss.

For the purpose of firmlyholding the fit ting 2 1 in the boss 21, thereis provided a clamp consisting of two arms26 26 connected at their outerends by a head-piece 27 containing an interior groove adapted to fitover a shoulder 28 on the rear portion of the fitting 24. Each arm 26 ispivotally secured to the boss 21 so that they may be'moved,

after the fitting 24L is connected to theboss, to bring the groovedhead-piece, tightly against the shoulder 28. After it is in thisinxFigx- 2, torremoval from the frame. After its upper end is soreleased, the vessel maybe easily withdrawn for refilling by lifting thebase 9 above chamber 3. a 1

The chambered part 18 of each vessel-16' has a vertical'channel portion30- which terminates at its upper end in an outwardly flaring-mouth, 31The latter is adapted its seat 8 on the ot the chamberedpart 18 of eachvessel 16,

are preferably two inclined baiiie plates 33 .33, each oi which containsan opening 3% to permit a ready flow of liquid therethrough whenthevessel is being filled or emptied.

Projecting toward the plates 33 33 iroin 'the opposite side ofthe vessel16, are preterably two inclined bafiie plates 35 35 so constructed andarranged with reference to the battle plates 33, 33, as to coiiperatewith them in thoroughly bathing or mixing the ascending ammonia gasesbefore they enter the outlet conduit 25.

ln order to effectively distribute in all directions, the gases whichissue from the top oi the tube 15, the latter is provided w'th a seriesof superimposed slots 36 arranged around the periphery of the tube, thetop thereof being closed by a threaded cap 37. (See 3 and a).

In operation, after the apparatus is installed in a dry cleaningestablishment, each generating unit is connected by a pipe with drycleaning machine. The frame may be built of sutlicient size to hold asmany units. as there are dry cleaning inachines to be supplied, or toprovide extra spaces to receive additional units asadditional drycleaning machines are installed.

Each vessel 16 may be taken out of the .t'rame in the manner beforedescribed, to be filled with aqua ammonia through its mouth 31. The cork32 is then applied and the vessel positioned in the frame so that thebase 9 rests upon the seat '8 provided to hold the chamber 10 in one ofthe holes 7 of the steam chamber 3. The top portion 01 the vessel 16 isthen secured to the top part oi the frame as before described, by theclamping device directly above the hole 7 into which the base 10 of thevessel extends, so that the conduit 25 will communicatewith the benttube 22 in the boss 24.

ll hen the aqua ammonia is poured into the vessel 16, it will descendthrough the small hole 13 to the chamber'lll where it will be exposed tothe steam in the chamber Although 1 preferably employ steam for heatingthis chamber, any other heat pro ducing medium may be employed ifdesired. Being subjected to this heat, the liquid aniinonia in thechamber 10v will soon come to a stateof ebullition; sending thegenerated gases upwardly into; the vessel 16 through the large hole 1 1and slotted discharge tube 15 with-which the latter coimnunicates. 'l hehole is is made, larger than the inlet hole. 13, to cause the game feedup throughit-rather than through the" latter.- By the slots 36provi.ded'in;the upper end of the tube 15, the will be presentedin;a;well commingled to, hetbafieplates. 3 th chambered part 18 of thevessel, by which it is further mixed and agitated.

My improved apparatus is so balanced that overheating of the aquaammonia is prevented, thereby practically eliminating the possibility ofwater vapors finding their way into the upper portion of the vessel 16.However, those that might possibly do so are condensed by the bailleplates and 35 andthe reduced temperature of the upper portion of thevessel containing them. This balance is principally effected by therelatively small radiating surface presented by the chamber 10 ascompared to the large cooling surfaces of the chambered portions 17 and18 of the vessel 16.

Furthermore, the fact that the vessel 16 is connected to its chamberedbase 10 by the narrow vertical member 12, also tends to restrict theamount of heat transmitted to the vessel above; while the reduced neckportion 19 of the latter further restricts the amount of heat that wouldotherwise be transmitted to the upper portion 18 of said vessel if itwere of the same diameter throughout its length. Accordingly, anypossible water vapors ascending to the upper portion of the vessel 16,will be so cooled thereby as to condense before they pass into theoutlet conduit 25.

It will now be seen that the ammonia gas will be practically freed ofmoisture by my improved apparatus, before it enters the conduit 25therein for transmission by the pipe 23 to its respective dry cleaningmachine. Being delivered thereto in a moisture free and continuousmanner, its cleaning properties are enhanced and danger from firethrough the formation of static electricity is practically removed forthe reasons heretofore given.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction andarrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or alterationsmay be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a frame, aheating cham ber forming the bottom thereof, of an ammonia-containingvessel removably mounted in said frame, a gas outlet at the top of saidvessel, a chambered base for the latter insertible into an opening inthe heating chamher,- a vertical member of reduced diameter, connectingsaid vessel and its base, a hole extending through said member todeliver ammonia to the base, a larger hole also extending through saidmember to receive the ascending gases, and a member in communicationwith the larger hole to discharge said gas in a diffused manner into theupper interior portion of said vessel.

2. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a frame, aheating chamher forming the bottom thereof, of'an ammonia-containingvessel. removably mounted in said frame, a outlet at the top of saidvessel, a relatively flat chambered base for the latter insertible intoan opening in the heating chamber a vertical member of reduced diametercoi'mecting said vessel and its base, a hole extending through said memher to deliver ammonia to the base, a larger hole also extending throughsaid member to receive the ascending gases, and a discharge tube securedto the vertical member, in communication with the larger hole, said tubeextending well into the interior of the vessel and beingcircumferentially slotted at its upper end to discharge the gas thereinin a diffused manner.

8. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a frame, aheating chamber at the bottom thereof, of an elongated ammonia-receivingvessel, a chambered base therefor insertible into an opening in said.heating chamber, gravity means for delivering ammonia from said vesselto its base, means for conducting the generated from said base to theinterior of said vessel, a clamping device for securing the top portionof said vessel to said frame, and a connecting tube formed in saidframe, for communicable engagement with the top por tion of said vesselafter the latter is clamped to the upper portion of said frame.

4;. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a frame, aheating chamher at the bottom thereof, of an elongated ammonia-receivingvessel, a relatively small chambered base therefor insert-ible into anopening in said chamber, a vertical member of reduced diameterconnecting said vessel and base, a conduit in said member for conductingliquid ammonia from said vessel to its base, a larger conduit in saidmember for conducting ammonia gas from said base to the vessel, anelongated neck portion between the upper and lower ends of said vesselto cocperate with the vertical member in cooling the upper end of thelat ter, and a gas outlet therein well above said reduced neck portion.

In a device of the type specified, the combination with a frame, aheating chamber forming the bottom thereof, of an elongatedammonia-receiving vessel having two enlarged end portions connected. byan'integral elongated neck portion, an outwardly flaring mouth at oneside of the upper end portion of said vessel, a relatively smallchambered base for the latter insertible into an opening in said heatingchamber, a vertical member of reduced diameter connecting the lower endof said vessel with its chambered base, a conduit in said verticalmember for conducting liquid ammonia from said vessel to its base, aparallel, but larger, conduit in said member to receive the ascendingammoniagases, a slotted tube in the gas outlet when the upper end of the10 communication with the second condult for vessel is clamped to theframe.

discharging said gas into the uppet' portion In testimony whereof I havehereunto set of the lower end of sald vessel, lnclined bafmy hand thls8th day of November, 191".

fie plates in the upper end of the vessel, a CARL F. SCHEFFER- gasoutlet above the bafile plates, a clamping device for securing the upperend of said Witnesses:

vessel to the frame, and a connecting tube W. B. HORMELL,

in said frame adapted to communicate with HOWARD S. SMITH.

